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Triumph of ballot over bullet in Kashmir: Vajpayee
Copenhagen, Oct 10 (ANI): Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said on Thursday that election in Kashmir was a triumph of ballot over bullet. Vajpayee, who is in Denmark on the second leg of his three-nation tour, was talking to Indian reporters on the sidelines of the third India-European Union Business summit in Copenhagen. "Efforts were made to selectively kill candidates and intimidate voters through violence. But despite all this, the people of Kashmir safeguarded and exercised their right to vote and showed that the strength of the ballot is more than that of the bullet. I congratulate them on their resilience," Vajpayee said. Kashmir's ruling National Party suffered a string of unexpected electoral defeats across the state. Vajpayee defended the outcome of the elections in the state saying winning or losing was part of any election process in a democracy. "A foreign correspondent asked me, a while ago, what happened to the party we were supporting in Kashmir. I told him the question was immaterial. The elections were not held to ensure victory of parties or candidates. Rather they were meant to safeguard our democracy and preserve our unity and integrity. Therefore whoever wins belongs to us, is the representative of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and a citizen of India. He would dispense with his duties. It does not matter which party he belongs to," he added. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen told a news conference at the end of EU-India summit that he has urged Prime Minister Vajpayee to improve relations with Pakistan. "At this crucial junction, we discussed the general situation in the region. I expressed the European Union's strong hope for a peaceful development based on negotiated settlement to all the issues that separate the parties," Rasmussen said whose country holds the rotating EU presidency. India has said it will not de-escalate till Pakistan stops cross- border terrorism. Successful elections in Kashmir had been set by India as a necessary but not sufficient condition before it considers holding peace talks with Pakistan. Relations between India and Pakistan have remained tense since an attack on India's parliament last December which New Delhi says was carried out by Pakistan-based militants. Indian television predicted the National Conference would fall well short of a majority in the 87-seat assembly, paving the way for a coalition between the Congress, the main national opposition party, and Kashmir's People's Democratic Party. The bloody election campaign left almost 750 people dead. India is hoping to use the election to start talks on giving greater autonomy to its only Muslim-majority state, and easing a separatist revolt which is at the heart of a military standoff with nuclear-armed rival Pakistan. Pakistan, which says Kashmiris should be given a referendum on their future, with or without India, has contested the turnout and called the election a farce. Mainstream separatists boycotted the poll while Muslim militants launched a wave of grenade, landmine and gun attacks in an attempt to sabotage the election.(ANI) Srinagar, Oct 10 (ANI): Hundreds of jubilant activists of the Congress party and other regional parties on Thursday danced down the streets of troubled Jammu and Kashmir following the rout of the ruling party in state elections. Elections to the 87-member state assembly were held in four phases from September 16 to October 8. According to latest available trends, the state's ruling National Conference which has been in power on-and-off for more than half a century was headed for defeat. Omar Abdullah, 32-year-old leader of the ruling National Conference, lost his own seat in the unexpected electoral setback for the party founded by his grandfather. His party is leading in 29 seats. The Congress party has emerged as the second largest party with lead in 22 seats causing severe dents in National Conference strongholds. Ghulam Nabi Azad, President of Jammu and Kashmir Congress party, said the people who voted amidst pressure have thrown National Conference out of power. "This is the victory of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh region not ours. They have voted despite pressure from Pakistan, militants and other organisations and state government. It is the victory of people and democracy....Our priority was to see National Conference away from the power and we have suceeded in that. We will see what happens in future," Azad told reporters in Jammu. Meanwhile, in New Delhi, the Congress party has said the separatists will be invited for talks for the resolution of Kashmir issue. Separatist Muslim guerrillas, fighting Indian rule in its only Muslim-majority state since 1989, condemned the vote and threatened to kill anyone taking part. Mainstream separatists boycotted it, but even they saw some hope from a new government in the region where 35,000 have been killed in the insurgency. "Well they (Hurriyat) did not participate in the elections it is regrettable but of course that comes later. Let the government be formed we will have to see. But one thing is very clear that we would like to involve in any future discussions all the groups of Kashmir, because you cannot leave out a particular group whether it is Hurriyat or anybody else out of any future discussion for peace and amity in the state of Jammu and Kashmir," Anil Shastri, spokesperson for the Congress party, told reporters in New Delhi. Congress party and Kashmir's People's Democratic Party (PDP), another surprise winner in the elections, has given indications of forming a coalition government in the state. Former Home Minister in federal government and PDP President Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said people have voted for a change in the state. "We thought that by making a party at the regional level and going to them to help them after atrocities or other things. A ray of hope was built among the people that if these people come to power they will work to resolve the Kashmir issue other than provide a good governance free from corruption and remove unemployment. So it's a negative mandate for the National Conference," Sayeed told reporters in Srinagar. Analysts say a new government might be the best opportunity in years to try to bring peace to the troubled state, which is at the heart of a standoff between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan. PDP leader and chief ministerial candidate of the party Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed said her party would talk to all the like-minded parties to form a government. "Nothing has been worked out formally but definitely we will keep our doors open. People want a change and we cannot cheat them on that. We will disband task force and take guns back from the surrendered militants. We will bring more accountability among the forces which are fighting against militancy. The Kashmir issue need to be resolved," Mehbooba Sayeed told reporters in Srinagar. Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, the lone winning Communist candidate, said the state's ruling National Conference and country's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have been wiped out in the elections. "I want to congratulate the people of the region who have voted for change against Bharatiya Janata Party and National Conference which has been wiped from the state," said Tarigami. India is hoping to use the election to start talks with the people of Kashmir on giving the state greater autonomy. It had also seen a successful election as a pre-condition for considering talks with Pakistan, seeing it as an endorsement of its rule and way to strengthen its hand against Pakistan, which wants Kashmiris to decide their future in a referendum. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee claimed victory because of a voter turnout of 46 percent and because the change of government showed the polls had been fair.(ANI) EU raises Pakistan issue, takes India by surprise
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Copenhagen Oct.10 (ANI): After having told India that it should not view it's bilateral relationship with EU through the prism of Pakistan, the European Union turned around and did exactly the opposite when the Danish Prime Minister and the Chairman of the European Council, Mr.Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who is also part of the EU Trioka brought up the Pakistan issue during the India-EU political dialogue and also made remarks critical of India's missile tests. It was indeed a strange development as in the business dialogue India was told that it should base it's relationship with the EU on the basis of bilateral ties and not bring in the Pakistan angle. The political dialogue process appears to have gone in a different direction. ANI asked Mr.Rasmussen during a meeting with reporters why Pakistan and Kashmir issues were not put in the prepared political statement between India and EU. The EU leader said "we could not agree on the text with India"!! Taking all by surprise Mr.Rasmussen said in his opening remarks that there should be a negotiated settlement of issues between India and Pakistan. He condemned the terrorist attacks in India and yet at the sametime said that "direct dialogue with Pakistan should be taken up". The EU leader went on to say "tensions should be lowered between India and Pakistan". The Indian delegation was quick to react to this anomaly. Foreign Minister Mr.Yashwant Sinha told reporters that it was unfortunate "while they condemned terrorism in private and yet the President of the European Council harped on the Kashmir issue". The Indian delegation felt that clearly the EU leader must have been influenced by Pakistan. The surprise was all the more glaring as it was just yesterday that the EU Commissioner for External Relations Mr.Chris Pattern called upon India "not to view the relationship with EU through the prism of Pakistan". Yet, within 24 hours, when the political dialogue opened, the EU leaders promptly brought up the Pakistan issue!! Senior Indian officials traveling with the prime minister told newsmen that while the EU says it is putting pressure on Pakistan the reality appears to be to the contrary. The Indian Disinvestment minister Mr.Arun Shourie very succinctly put it when he said "EU is giving out the same message to the arsonist (Pakistan) and the fire fighter (India). You cannot give the same message to both". Reacting to the EU's strange turn around on the political dialogue prime minister Vajpayee said while the EU and the world keep telling India to talk to Pakistan and to have direct dialogue the reality is "of course we have had direct contact with Pakistan. I went to Lahore and in turn we got Kargil. India then invited Musharraf to Agra and then what happened - all talks broke down". At the press briefing ANI put forward a question to Mr.Yashwant Sinha whether this diatribe by the Danish Prime Minister, who is also part of the EU Trioka would have an impact on the bilateral talks with EU which are opening tomorrow. Foreign Minister Mr.Sinha said "we hope not and if it does happen we know what to do". Senior business leaders from India and other parts of the world who have gathered here have expressed surprise at the manner in which the EU brought up Pakistan and Kashmir issues which were not in the prepared text. While informed sources here have attributed this to heavy American pressure on the EU post 9/11 as a way for rewarding Pakistan for providing logistical support to the US forces in the war against terror. Business leaders were also quick to explain the reference to Pakistan as a quid pro quo for it's support to the US-led forces in it's war against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and it had nothing to do with trade and commercial relations between India and EU. This was an occasion for Islamabad to cash in it's American made IOU's with the EU and it did.(ANI) Omar to quit as Central minister
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to top Srinagar, Oct. 10 (ANI): Omar Abdullah, disgraced at the hustings, has announced that he will quit the post of Minister of State for External Affairs in the BJP-led government at the Centre after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee returns from abroad. But whether the National Conference, of which he is the president, will remain in the NDA Cabinet is, according to him, an open question. Abdullah further said that his party would not stake claim to form a government in the state even if it emerged as the single largest party. Asked about the reasons for the party's poor showing, he said much has to be explained by the MLAs and senior leaders of the party who were in power for the last six years. At the same time, he congratulated Qazi Mohammed Afzal for his victory in Gunderbal. (ANI)
Salman Khan appears in court Go to top Mumbai, Oct 10 (ANI): Bollywood actor Salman Khan, arrested on charges of killing one person in a hit-and-run case, was produced in a local court on Thursday. The actor was taken from the crime branch cell of Bombay police to the court amidst tight security. The court extended his police custody till Monday. According to reports, Khan was driving a car without a licence on September 28, when it rammed into four people, killing one. The actor has been booked under section 304 of the Indian Penal Code for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Khan is a popular actor in "Bollywood" and his macho, swaggering screen image has won him fans across the country. Khan has been under the shadow of law for alleged involvement in illegal hunting in Rajasthan. He was in the news last year when he created a flutter outside the residence of actress Aishwarya Rai in the night seeking an audience with her.(ANI) Security umbrella over temple in Mirzapur Go to top Mirzapur, Oct. 10 (ANI): A few days ago reports appeared in local newspapers that militants are planning to attack a temple in UP's Mirzapur town. This is barely weeks after two Muslim gunmen killed 28 Hindu devotees at the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Earlier, lakhs of pilgrims used to throng the temple, located on the banks of the Ganga, during the Navaratra festival. Now the local priests say that there is a fall of at least 30 to 40 percent in attendance. "Since it came out in the newspapers that there will be an Akshardham temple-like incident, the crowds have been much less. There has been at least a 30 to 40 percent drop in the number of visiting devotees," according to Pankaj Trivedi, a priest. Police, who do not want to take any chances, have tightened security all round the temple. Close-circuit television cameras have been installed at all vital points and a watch is being kept on the pilgrims entering the temple. Vijay Kumar Pandey, a pilgrim, observed: "Security arrangements have been made here in context of the attack on Akshardham temple. The authorities had asked for our co-operation in this. We were also assisting them. Some six Pandas (priests) have also been put on duty at the sanctum sanctorum." More than 1,000 constables, 200 inspectors and 40 Deputy Superintendents of Police have been deployed and metal detectors installed in the temple premises. Superintendent of Police Hariram Sharma denied there was any threat to the temple but nevertheless they were on guard. "We have made adequate security arrangements to deal with any communally sensitive situation. We are on guard," he said. Sharma further remarked that Hindu-Muslim riots often break out in the area at the slightest pretext and police this time are fully prepared. Local shopkeepers complained that the fair grounds were teeming with policemen. There were hardly any devotees and business was dull. (ANI)
Iraq claims 4 killed, 10 wounded in allied air strike
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top Baghdad, Oct 10 (ANI): A US-British air assault in northern Iraq killed four civilians and wounded 10, said a report on Thursday. An unidentified military spokesman told the official Iraqi News Agency that the warplanes bombed areas in Mosul province, 400 kilometers north of Baghdad. In Germany, the U.S. European Command said in a statement that U.S. warplanes bombed an air defence site in northern Iraq on Wednesday after being threatened by Iraqi missiles. Meanwhile, a Washington report says that a resolution authorizing a possible US attack on Iraq had more support from congressional Democrats, as the Senate defeated the first attempt to amend the measure sought by President Bush. The Senate rejected 88-10 an amendment pushed by Intelligence Committee Chairman, Sen. Bob Graham, to expand the resolution's power to go after Iraq to include five listed terrorist groups, which Graham said posed a far more immediate threat to the United States. But backers of the Iraq war-powers resolution said Graham's amendment would upset the delicate bipartisan agreement reached on the resolution, delay its passage, and send a confusing message to the world on the U.S. resolve to deal with Iraq.(ANI)
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